Blackberry plant named &#39;Drisblacksix&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackSix’, particularly characterized by high yields, long production season and vigorous plants, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rubus L. subgenus Rubus

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DrisBlackSix’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivardesignated ‘DrisBlackSix’ and botanically known as Rubus L. subgenusRubus. This new blackberry variety was identified in Santa Cruz County,Calif. in June 2005 and originated from a cross between the femaleparent blackberry plant ‘BF785-1’ (unpatented) and the male parentblackberry plant ‘Driscoll Cowles’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,780). Theoriginal seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated bytissue culture and root cuttings at a nursery in Santa Cruz County,Calif. in 2005. ‘DrisBlackSix’ was subsequently asexually propagated bytissue culture and root cuttings and underwent further testing at anursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. from 2010 to 2012. The presentinvention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type throughsuccessive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘DrisBlackSix’ has not been made publicly available or sold more thanone year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Santa Cruz County, Calif.

-   -   1. High yields;    -   2. Long production season; and    -   3. Vigorous plants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's canes, fruit, and leaves. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photographs are of plants that are 4 years old.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a young cane without spines.

FIG. 2 shows the flowers and the fruit at various stages.

FIG. 3 shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following descriptions of ‘DrisBlackSix’ are based on observationsmade in Santa Cruz County; Calif. on 4-year old plants. This descriptionis in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, colordescriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from thestated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlackSix’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition). Descriptive terminology isfrom the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary2^(nd) edition, by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unlesswhere otherwise defined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackSix’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant named ‘BF785-1’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant named ‘Driscoll            Cowles’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,780).-   Plant:    -   -   Vigor.—High.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Productivity.—High.        -   Propagation.—Tissue culture and root cuttings.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self-fruitful.        -   Time of bud burst.—Early to medium.-   Canes:    -   -   Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral from tip).—Average:            Medium to long; 58.5 cm.        -   Number of fruit per lateral.—Average: 11.0.        -   Fruiting on current year's cane.—Absent.        -   Cane internodal distance.—Average: 8.7 cm.        -   Number of new canes during flowering.—Few.        -   New cane strength (observed full-grown shoot after            picking).—Strong.        -   Glaucosity observed on full-grown shoot after            picking.—Medium.        -   Spines.—Absent.        -   Young shoots.—Quantity: Few Time of emergence from soil:            Medium Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth): Strong;            RHS 183A (Dark greyed-purple) Intensity of green color:            Medium; RHS 144A (Medium yellow-green). Number of glandular            hairs: Medium on laterals; absent or few on main cane.        -   Dormant cane.—Length: Long Diameter (in central third):            Medium Cross section (from mid cane observed at end of first            growing season): Rounded to angular Color: Sunny side: RHS            183A (Dark greyed-purple) Shade side: RHS 144A (Medium            yellow-green) Number of branches: Medium Distribution of            branches: Over whole length Anthocyanin coloration: Strong;            RHS 183A (Dark greyed-purple) Spines: Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type.—Palmate.        -   Predominant number of leaflets.—Three to seven.        -   Overlapping or relative position of lateral leaflets.—Free.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Medium; RHS 143A (Medium green) Lower            surface: Light; RHS 144A (Medium yellow-green).        -   Glossiness of upper side.—Medium.        -   Cross section profile.—Concave (margins rolled inwards).        -   Leaflets.—Shape: Oval to ovate Margin: Serrate Depth of            incisions: Shallow Type of incision margin: Bi-serrate Apex:            Truncate to acuminate Base: Obtuse Rachis length between            terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral leaflet: Average: 24.5            mm.        -   Lateral leaflet (basal pair).—Length: Average: 86.3 mm            Width: Average: 60.3 mm Length/width ratio: 1.4.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: Average: Short; 118.0 mm Width:            Average: Medium; 74.0 mm Length/width ratio: 1.6 Lobing:            Absent Undulation of margin (rippling of margin): Weak to            medium Blistering between veins (rugosity): Weak Shape: Oval            to ovate Tip: Truncate Base: Obtuse Margin: Crenate            Cross-section: U-shaped.        -   Petiole.—Length average: 17.5 mm Diameter average: 1.2 mm            Pigmentation: Upper surface: Medium; RHS 137A (Dark green)            Lower surface: Light; RHS 137D (Medium green).        -   Stipule.—Size: Medium Orientation: Erect.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time of beginning of flowering on previous year's            cane.—Early.        -   Time of beginning of flowering on current year's cane.—N/A.        -   Flower diameter.—Average: Medium; 37.0 mm.        -   Flower number (at 3^(rd) node from tip of lateral).—Average:            1.        -   Petal.—Length: Average: 16.4 mm Width: Average: 11.19 mm            Length/width ratio: 1.5 Color: RHS N155A (White) and RHS 68D            (Medium red-purple).        -   Pedicel.—Length: Average: 40.8 mm Diameter: Average: 1.22            mm.-   Fruit:    -   -   Time of ripening on previous year's cane.—Medium.        -   Time of ripening on current year's cane.—N/A.        -   Harvest interval.—Early June to late July.        -   Color.—Immature: RHS 146A (Dark yellow-green) Maturing: RHS            183B (Dark greyed-purple) Mature: RHS 202A (Black).        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Shape in longitudinal section.—Narrow ovate.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Length.—Average: Medium to long; 28.78 mm.        -   Width.—Average: Medium; 19.44 mm.        -   Ratio of length to width.—1.5 (longer than broad).        -   Weight (g/fruit).—6.9 g.        -   Soluble solids (%) (in Brix).—10.2.        -   Titratable acidity.—(% as citric acid): 1.3.        -   Seed weight (g/seed).—0.284.        -   Number of druplets/fruit.—Many; 35.        -   Size of druplet.—Medium.        -   Firmness.—Medium to firm.        -   Yield.—Medium to high.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: Not tested

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackSix’ differs from the proprietary female parent ‘BF785-1’(unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackSix’ is thornless, whereas ‘BF785-1’ isthorny. Additionally, ‘DrisBlackSix’ has smaller fruit than ‘BF785-1’.

‘DrisBlackSix’ differs from the proprietary male parent ‘DriscollCowles’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,780) in that ‘DrisBlackSix’ has earlierproduction than ‘Driscoll Cowles’.

‘DrisBlackSix’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Driscoll Cannel’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,058) in that ‘DrisBlackSix’ has high vigor andfew young shoots, whereas ‘Driscoll Cannel’ has moderate vigor and amedium number of young shoots. Additionally, ‘DrisBlackSix’ is thornlessand has medium glossy fruit, whereas ‘Driscoll Carmel’ has spines andstrongly glossy fruit.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named‘DrisBlackSix’ as described and shown herein.